Self-pressurized portable container for liquids

ABSTRACT

This portable container for liquids includes a bottom ring plate on which is nested an upper pressure plate. An elastic membrane overlays the pressure plate to define therewith a chamber for containing a liquid under pressure. The membrane has a circumferential side wall abutting a side wall of the pressure plate, and an inturned wall engaged between side walls of the ring plate and pressure plate. A fitting having a passage opening into the chamber is integral with the pressure plate and extends downwardly through a central hole in the ring plate. A flexible hose is attached to the fitting. A massive handle extends upwardly from the top of the membrane. Threaded studs extend down from the pressure plate through holes in the ring plate and receive nuts which hold the parts in pressure sealing engagement. A groove on the ring plate receives a bead at the free edge of the inturned wall of the membrane for locking the membrane in place when the nuts are tightened.

lJnited States Patent Viehe Dec. 30, 1975 SELF-PRESSURIZED PORTABLE CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS 211 Appl. No.: 553,095

[57] ABSTRACT This portable container for liquids includes a bottom ring plate on which is nested an upper pressure plate. An elastic membrane overlays the pressure plate to define therewith a chamber for containing a liquid under pressure. The membrane has a circumferential side wall abutting a side wall of the pressure plate, and

[52] US. Cl. 222/210; 222/212; 222/215 an inturned wall engaged between side walls of the [51] Int. Cl. B65D 37/00 ring plate and pressure plate. A fitting having a pas- [58] Field of Search 222/206, 210, 212, 215, sage opening into the chamber is integral with the 222/105, 386.5; 220/85 B pressure plate and extends downwardly through a central hole in the ring plate. A flexible hose is attached [56] References Cited to the fitting. A massive handle extends upwardly from UNITE STATES PATENTS the top of the membrane. Threaded studs extend 2,531,366 11 1950 Smith 222/386.5 x down from pressure plate through the 2,573364 12/1951 Tupper ZZZ/215 plate and rece1ve nuts which hold the parts 1n pressure 3,722,756 3 1973 Cramer, Jr... 222 212 Sealing engagement A groove on the ring Plate 3,880,323 4 1975 Viehe 222 47 ceives a bead at th f dg f t i turn d wal f the membrane for locking the membrane in place Primary Examiner-Drayton E. Hoffman when the nuts r tight n d- Assistanz Examiner-Charles A. Marmor Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jacob B. Burke 10 Claims, 11 Drawlng Flgures 'Y 1 v l lkll(l\llllllll: 55 I I V e2 1 1 1 a l l 58 40 4| I II I 2 34, 60

US. Patent Dec. 30, 1975 Sheet1of2 3,929,262

US. Patent Dec. 30, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,929,262

SELF-PRESSURIZED PORTABLE CONTAINER FOR LIQUIDS This invention concerns an improved portable selfpressurized container for liquids.

The invention involves improvements over prior portable containers, especially the container described in my copending U.S. patent application for SelfPressured Container For Liquids, Ser. No. 464495, filed Apr. 26, 1974, which issued as US Pat. No. 3,880,323, on Apr. 29, 1975.

In my prior container an elastic membrane which is non-uniform in thickness in unstretched condition, has a peripheral cylindrical wall secured under tension by an adjustable clamp to the periphery of a base plate. The base plate has a bowed construction, with concave surface uppermost. The container is supported by cords which engage a separate handle. The cords pass through a guide plate centered over the membrane. A tape engaged with the handle and guide plate restricts twisting of the cords.

The present invention ivolves improvements over the prior container. According to the invention, a massive handle is integrally molded with the elastic membrane. This locates the handle as close as possible to the center of gravity of the container at all times. Thus the container is better balanced while being carried. Manufacture is simplified by forming the handle and membrane as one unit. The present container also employs a bowed pressure plate which is bolted to a ring plate. The peripheral wall of the membrane is locked between nesting annular walls of the pressure plate and ring plate. The bolts of the pressure plate are integrally molded with the pressure plate. The ring plate is formed with four arcuate legs which support the container. A fitting is integrally formed with the pressure plate and extends through a central hole in the ring plate. The fitting receives a nipple to which is attached a flexible hose having a control valve and nozzle. The

entire assembly is easier to assemble and disassemble than the prior portable container. It has less parts. It is easier to use, store and carry. It is safer and more reliable in operation.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken together with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a portable container embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the container, taken on line '2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the container.

FIG. 4 is a bottom planview of the container.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a nozzle at the end of the hose taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the ring plate per se. FIG. 9 is a front elevational view similar to FIG. 1 showing the elastic membrane expanded by a liquid filling the container.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to a portion of FIG. 5, showing a modification of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary top plan view of the ring plate employed in the assembly of FIG. 10.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-6, there is shown a portable container 20 which has a rigid bottom sealing ring plate 22. This plate serves as a base for the container. It has an upper or top annular flange 24 with central hole 25, and a depending, axial, circumferential wall 26. This wall is conical in shape which increases its strength axially and radially. The wall has four elongated notches 28 at the bottom defining four curved legs 30 which serve to support the container. Top flange 24 has spaced holes 325 see FIG. 8. These holes receive threaded studs or bolts 34 integrally molded with pressure plate 36.

Pressure plate 36 has a circular top wall 38 which is bowed in construction so that its convex side 39 is uppermost and its lower concave side 37 is spaced from flange 24 of plate 22. Plate 36 has a circumferential depending wall or skirt 40 in which fits wall 26 of plate 22. Studs 34 extending through holes 32 are engaged by nuts 41, and hold plates 36 and 22 in a nested or telescoped position. A circumferential groove 42 is formed at the periphery of flange 24 and receives a lip or bead 49 at the free inturned edge of elastic membrane 50.

Membrane 50 has a circular, generally flat top wall 52 in unstretched condition overlaying wall 38 of the pressure plate and defining therewith expansible chamber 53; see FIGS. 5 and 9. Wall 52 tapers in thickness from its center outwardly to a thick reinforcing bead 55 at the rim of the wall. Wall 52 is thickest at its center, so that when it is fully stretched by filling chamber 53 with liquid L under pressure, it is substantially uniform in thickness and thus resists the pressure equally all around. A massive carrying handle 56 is integrally molded or formed with wall 52 and extends upwardly from its center. A peripheral wall or skirt 58 is integrally molded with top wall 52 and abuts the outer side of wall 40. The membrane has an inwardly turned circumferentialwall section 60 concentric with wall or skirt 58 and engaged tightly and snugly between walls 40 and 26. It will be apparent that when nuts 41 are tightened, the membrane will be secured in place over plate 36 by engagement and pressure between walls 26 and 40, with lip or bead 49 seated snugly in groove 42. Plate 36 has an inside circumferential fillet 62 which is shaped to conform to the shape of bead 49, and is located inside plate 36 at the junction of walls 38 and 40.

Depending from wall 38 and integral therewith is a fitting 64. This fitting extends downwardly through central hole 25 in plate 22; see FIG. 6. The fitting has a passage 68 which extends through top wall 38 and opens into chamber 53. Passage 68 communicates with a lateral opening 70 in which is fitted a rigid nipple 72. One end of a flexible hose 74 is attached to nipple 72. At the outermost end of hose 74 is a nozzle 78; see FIGS. 1 and 7. Nozzle 75 receives a removable plug 78 which has grooves 79 defining channels with the inner side of nozzle 75 to divide a stream of liquid issuing from the container into a finely divided shower or spray. Flexible, spaced annular ridges 80 are formed inside the nozzle to engage on a caucet or fixture when the container is being filled.

To fill the container with liquid L- such as water under pressure, plug 78 is removed and the nozzle 75 is attached to a faucet of a liquid supply source. When valve 76 is opened membrane 50 will expand as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 1 and as shown partially in section in FIG. 9, while liquid under pressure flows into the container. After the container is filled, valve 76 will be closed. The container can then be carried about conveniently by manually grasping handle 56. When the container is placed on a supporting surface, legs 30 support the container. Hose 74 extends outwardly of the container through one of notches 28 between two legs 30. To dispense liquid L, valve 76 will be opened and the liquid will flow under pressure out of the container. Stretched membrane 50 maintains the water flow under pressure until the membrane is fully relaxed as shown in FIG. 5.

It will be apparent that container 20 can readily be disassembled for cleaning by unscrewing nuts 41, lifting plate 36 off plate 22, and stripping membrane 50 off plate 36. Reassembly is likewise simple and performed in reverse order from the disassembly operation. When not in use hose 74 can be coiled conveniently underneath and inside of ring plate 22.

FIGS. and 11 show a modified construction for membrane 50' of container 20'. The membrane has an annular flange or wall section 82 which extends radially inward from circumferential wall 60. The lip or bead 49' is formed at the rim of flange 82 and fits into a circumferential groove 42' spaced radially inward of the rim of the flange 24 at the top of ring plate 22'. This construction improves the locking and sealing of the elastic membrane between walls 26, 40 and between flange 24 and wall 38. Shoulders 84 are formed at the junctions of studs 34' and the underside of wall 38. These shoulders abut the top of flange 24' when nuts 41 are tightened and serve as spacers to insure that there will be no relative movement or vibration between plates 22' and 36 when membrane 50' is locked in place. Other parts of the container assembly 20 are identical to container assembly 20 and are identically numbered.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that significant improvements have beeneffected over prior self-pressurized containers. These improvements, for example, make the container safer and more reliable for general usage. Tendencies of membranes and base plates of prior containers to rupture under pressure or slide off their supports have been effectively eliminated in a simple and more economical manner. Unequal or excessive tension in clamping membranes in place has been avoided. Use of cords and tapes has been avoided. All-in-all the container assembly is simpler and more economical to manufacture. Various parts of the container can be made of relatively inexpensive molded plastic material and artificial rubber, or they can be made of metal where suitable, all fabricated at relatively low cost by mass production machinery.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, it will be apparent that many changes and modifications are possible without departing from the invention which is defined in the appended claims:

What is claimed is:

l. A self-pressurized portable container for liquid, comprising:

a bottom ring plate having an upper annular flange defining a central hole,

and

a depending circumferential side wall integrally joined to the periphery of said flange;

a pressure plate having a circular upper wall, and

a depending circumferential other side wall integrally joined to the periphery of said upper wall and nesting on the bottom ring plate;

a circular elastic membrane having a circular top wall overlaying said pressure plate and defining therewith an an expansible chamber for containing liquid under pressure,

an axially extending depending skirt integral with the periphery of said top wall, surrounding and abutting said other side wall, and

an inwardly turned circumferential wall concentric with and integral with said skirt engaged between the side wall of the bottom ring plate and the other side wall of the pressure plate; means in the pressure plate for filling and emptying said chamber and attachment means detachably securing the ring plate and pressure plate together to hold the inwardly turned wall of the membrane in sealing pressure engagement while the top wall of the membrane is free to expand under pressure of liquid filling said chamber.

2. A portable container as defined in claim 1, wherein the side walls of both the bottom ring plate and upper pressure plate are conical in shape to facilitate nesting of the plates and to strengthen the same radially and axially.

3. A portable container as defined in claim 1, further comprising a massive handle integral with and extending upwardly from said top wall of the membrane to facilitate manual carrying of the container.

4. A portable container as defined in claim 3, wherein said flange has circumferentially spaced holes, and wherein said attachment means comprises threaded studs extending'downwardly from the upper wall of the pressure plate and through said spaced holes for receiving threaded nuts to hold the ring plate and pressure plate in pressure engagement with parts of the elastic membrane therebetween.

5. A portable container as defined in claim 3, wherein said filling and emptying means comprises a fitting integral with the upper wall of the pressure plate and extending downwardly through said central hole in the bottom ring plate, said fitting having a passage therein opening into said chamber for filling the same with liquid under pressure. I

6. A portable container as defined in claim 5, further comprising a flexible hose, means connecting said hose to said fitting for filling said chamber with liquid and for dispensing liquid therefrom, a valve on the hose for controlling passage of said liquid through the hose, and a nozzle on the hose for engaging on a faucet to fill the chamber with liquid and for dispensing liquid from said chamber via the hose.

7. A portable container as defined in claim 1, wherein the flange of the bottom ring plate has a circumferential groove formed therein, and wherein the circumferential inner wall of said membrane has a free edge formed with a bead engaging in said circumferential groove for holding said circumferential wall in secure engagement between the ring plate and pressure plate.

8. A portable container as defined in claim 1, wherein the top wall of the membrane in unstretched condition is thicker at its center than at its periphery to assume substantially uniform thickness when stretched by liquid under pressure in said chamber.

annular wall section and circumferential wall of the membrane securely between the ring plate and pres sure plate.

10. A portable container as defined in claim 4, further comprising spacer means at the studs between the upper wall of the pressure plate and the flange of the ring plate to prevent relative movement and vibration of the same when the nuts are tightened on the studs. k 

1. A self-pressurized portable container for liquid, comprising: a bottom ring plate having an upper annular flange defining a central hole, and a depending circumferential side wall integrally joined to the periphery of said flange; a pressure plate having a circular upper wall, and a depending circumferential other side wall integrally joined to the periphery of said upper wall and nesting on the bottom ring plate; a circular elastic membrane having a circular top wall overlaying said pressure plate and defining therewith an an expansible chamber for containing liquid under pressure, an axiAlly extending depending skirt integral with the periphery of said top wall, surrounding and abutting said other side wall, and an inwardly turned circumferential wall concentric with and integral with said skirt engaged between the side wall of the bottom ring plate and the other side wall of the pressure plate; means in the pressure plate for filling and emptying said chamber and attachment means detachably securing the ring plate and pressure plate together to hold the inwardly turned wall of the membrane in sealing pressure engagement while the top wall of the membrane is free to expand under pressure of liquid filling said chamber.
 2. A portable container as defined in claim 1, wherein the side walls of both the bottom ring plate and upper pressure plate are conical in shape to facilitate nesting of the plates and to strengthen the same radially and axially.
 3. A portable container as defined in claim 1, further comprising a massive handle integral with and extending upwardly from said top wall of the membrane to facilitate manual carrying of the container.
 4. A portable container as defined in claim 3, wherein said flange has circumferentially spaced holes, and wherein said attachment means comprises threaded studs extending downwardly from the upper wall of the pressure plate and through said spaced holes for receiving threaded nuts to hold the ring plate and pressure plate in pressure engagement with parts of the elastic membrane therebetween.
 5. A portable container as defined in claim 3, wherein said filling and emptying means comprises a fitting integral with the upper wall of the pressure plate and extending downwardly through said central hole in the bottom ring plate, said fitting having a passage therein opening into said chamber for filling the same with liquid under pressure.
 6. A portable container as defined in claim 5, further comprising a flexible hose, means connecting said hose to said fitting for filling said chamber with liquid and for dispensing liquid therefrom, a valve on the hose for controlling passage of said liquid through the hose, and a nozzle on the hose for engaging on a faucet to fill the chamber with liquid and for dispensing liquid from said chamber via the hose.
 7. A portable container as defined in claim 1, wherein the flange of the bottom ring plate has a circumferential groove formed therein, and wherein the circumferential inner wall of said membrane has a free edge formed with a bead engaging in said circumferential groove for holding said circumferential wall in secure engagement between the ring plate and pressure plate.
 8. A portable container as defined in claim 1, wherein the top wall of the membrane in unstretched condition is thicker at its center than at its periphery to assume substantially uniform thickness when stretched by liquid under pressure in said chamber.
 9. A portable container as defined in claim 1, wherein the flange of the bottom ring plate has a circumferential groove formed thereon and spaced radially inward from the outer periphery of said flange, and wherein the membrane has an annular wall section extending radially inward from the inner circumferential wall to overlay the flange of the bottom ring plate, said annular wall section having a bead at its free edge engaged in said circumferential groove for holding said annular wall section and circumferential wall of the membrane securely between the ring plate and pressure plate.
 10. A portable container as defined in claim 4, further comprising spacer means at the studs between the upper wall of the pressure plate and the flange of the ring plate to prevent relative movement and vibration of the same when the nuts are tightened on the studs. 